Motor vehicles accidents account for more deaths than all
natural
disasters combined. In fact in the United States your
chances
of being injured in an motor vehicle accident is better than one in a
thousand,
in any one year. If you are a male, than you are twice as likely
to die in a motor vehicle accident than if you are a female. Yet,
if you are a female you are slightly more likely to be
injured.
The ages of 16 and 24 are the most dangerous for both sexes.
Between
the ages of 16 and 64 alcohol figures into over 20% of all fatal
accidents,
and between the ages of 21 and 44 almost 50% of all fatalities.
Between
the ages of 16 and 44 the fatality rate has declined since 1975.
The most significant decline being in the 16 - 20 age group.
About
half of all property damage accidents result in injuries or
fatalities.
Since 1966 the rate of fatalities by population has fallen around 40%,
by numbers of drivers over 50%, and by numbers of miles driven by
almost
70%. We are driving allot more miles and driving is still
safer.
As we are get older we are more likely to die as a pedestrian, but we
are
more likely to be injured the younger we are. Approximately 15%
of
people who die because of motor vehicle accidents are pedestrians,
bicyclists
or other wise not in motor vehicles. Over 2/3 rd's of people who
die in vehicles are not properly wearing safety restraints. Your
risk of dying in a motor vehicle accident is almost five times more
likely
in Mississippi than in Massachusetts. You are ten times more
likely
to die driving a motor cycle than if you are driving any other motor
vehicle.